The funding is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Bill (HR 2764), which has passed the House and Senate, and is expected to be signed into law by the President. This funding is in addition to the over $58 million in energy and water infrastructure projects and $4.6 million in crime prevention funding, also in HR 2764, announced by Visclosky earlier this week.

$931,000 for Northwest Indiana Educational Investments

Also included in the legislation is $931,000 for a range of educational initiatives in Northwest Indiana, including after-school programs for K-12 students, funding for an urban academy geared for college bound students, and support for Indiana University Northwest’s (IUN) Health Research Institute.

“Access to high-quality education, whether for college-bound students, after-school K-12 programs, or research institutions, is the foundation for future success in life,” said Visclosky. “These funds will help advance a full range of important educational programs in Northwest Indiana.”

Specifically, the Indiana University School of Medicine in Gary will receive $502,000 for facilities and equipment at the newly formed Northwest Indiana Health Research Institute, which advances new knowledge and information about the health and care of urban populations. The goal of the Institute is to conduct research projects of various kinds, including the capacity to conduct epidemiological studies and other surveys.  The Northwest Indiana Health Research Institute will research health problems associated with urban living and treatment strategies appropriate to those populations.  Examples include epidemiological and health disparity studies of impacted sub-groups, behavioral analysis, disease specific studies pertaining to asthma, cardiovascular and pulmonary health as well as cancer incidence and type. 

Visclosky also secured $238,000 for to help fund the Hammond Purdue Calumet urban academy focused on technology and science with a college-bound curriculum. Purdue University Calumet, with the support of the Civil City of Hammond, will create an urban academy as an alternative educational opportunity for Hammond residents. The academy would begin as a middle school focused on technology and science with a college-bound curriculum, with the academy adding grade levels each year until it becomes a middle/high school. The academy would serve approximately 90 students per grade, and parental involvement would be a prerequisite for application. 

“A quality education at the middle and high school level is vital for Hammond to attract and retain the families, jobs, and economic opportunities that we need to be successful,” said Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr. “By partnering with Purdue University Calumet and Congressman Visclosky’s office, the students of Hammond will have access to new educational opportunities and an improved quality of life.”

Visclosky also secured $191,000 for after school and summer programs at the YWCA of Gary. The Gary YWCA will offer an after school and summer program, called Kids Café, designed to provide a safe haven for children and prevent them from engaging in risky behavior.  The program aims to serve youth throughout Northwest Indiana by offering activities designed to promote physical, mental and emotional development. Activities include tutoring, mentoring, arts and crafts, swimming lessons, golf instruction, tennis, weight management and computer training.

$2.06 million for NWI Environment/Infrastructure

Included in the legislation is funding to help the program tasked with preserving and restoring Indiana’s lakeshore. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will receive $1.476 million for land acquisition. The funding for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore fits into Visclosky’s vision for investing in Lake Michigan to improve the area’s economic and recreational opportunities.

“Everyday, our position on Lake Michigan becomes more valuable,” said Visclosky, who has championed lakeshore restoration through his Marquette Plan. “When we invest in the future of our lakeshore, we are investing in the future of Northwest Indiana.”

In order for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to realize its authorized boundaries, it is necessary to acquire additional land. Overall, the total number of remaining acres within the National Lakeshore boundary that has yet to be acquired totals approximately 4,300 acres.

“Thanks to Congressman Visclosky, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will have funding to continue acquiring critical parcels of land, especially hardship properties. The purchase of these congressionally authorized lands will allow more people to enjoy the beauty of the Indiana Dunes,” said Tom Anderson, Executive Director of Save the Dunes.

IDNL was authorized by Congress in 1966, and runs for nearly 15 miles along southern Lake Michigan, bordered by Michigan City, Indiana on the east, and Gary on the west. In 1986 and 1992, Congressman Visclosky authored legislation to expand the Dunes, resulting in the addition of more than 2,000 acres to the National Lakeshore. The park contains approximately 15,000 acres, 2,182 of which are located in Indiana Dunes State Park and managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. 

In addition to the funding for the Dunes, Visclosky was also able to secure $492,000 for water and sewer infrastructure improvements in Merrillville. This funding will help to offset the cost of installing water mains to areas of the town currently have wells intermingling with the septic system. 

This bill also includes $98,000 for the restoration of St. Joseph’s Theatre at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer.

$7.252 million for NWI Transportation

Visclosky was able to secure funding for several transportation infrastructure projects throughout the 1^st Congressional District, including $4.9 million for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s (NICTD) efforts to continue to invest in commuter rail throughout Northwest Indiana, which was also supported by Senator Richard Lugar and Congressman Joe Donnelly.  The funding for all of the transportation projects will create new economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for everyone in Northwest Indiana, according to Visclosky.  The South Shore Line is a major contributor to the economic engine of Northwest Indiana, operating more than 12,800 trains and carrying more than 4.2 million passengers annually to the good-paying jobs and economic opportunities in Chicago. The South Shore is uniquely positioned in the heart of Chicago’s Loop within easy access to approximately 500,000 jobs, nearly doubling the job base of Lake and Porter counties.

Visclosky sees this funding part as part of a larger strategy to not only improve the existing rail line, but also to make progress on the expansion of the South Shore. “The South Shore Rail Line is part of building a new economy in Northwest Indiana, and we have an opportunity to enhance and expand this economic engine,” said Visclosky. “This funding will help lay the foundation for an expanded rail service by first improving the existing line.  In addition to this federal support for the South Shore, a long-term non-federal funding source should be identified to ensure the expansion moves ahead quickly.”

Specifically, this funding will enable NICTD to continue with the designing and building of new centralized traffic control and power distribution systems.  These two projects will improve operational flexibility and reliability; while the signal project will have the added benefit of increasing track capacity to accommodate escalating demand.  The signal project will provide full, centralized traffic control of the passenger line using state-of-the-art microprocessor-based systems to support the signal network. 

                                                Also included in the legislation is $1.225 million to align 45^th Street and Calumet Avenue in Munster. By allowing this east-west thoroughfare to be aligned, traffic congestion and train interruptions will be greatly reduced. 

            Visclosky also secured $392,000 for improvements and updates to bike trails in the Town of Highland. The funding will be used to provide lighting and other improvements for the Highland portion of the Erie Lackawanna Trail, a multi-town bike trail.

            In South Haven, Visclosky was able to secure $294,000 for sidewalks and streetscape improvements in this Porter County community. This funding would be used to construct sidewalks near schools, parks and other youth-oriented facilities in the community.

            Also included in the legislation is $245,000 to go to the Town of Winfield to study improvements to 109^th Avenue. With a new I-65 interchange planned for 109^th Avenue, the funding will be used by the Town of Winfield to study what the town can do to improve a three mile stretch of 109^th Avenue. 

Visclosky also secured $196,000 for Rohrman Park in Schererville. This funding will be used for park expansion and improvements, including improvements to the athletic fields in the park.

$1.09 million for Advancing Science in Northwest Indiana

            Two initiatives aimed to enhance scientific capabilities in Northwest Indiana were also included in this legislation. The expansion of the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana will receive $282,000, in addition to the $1.968 million that Visclosky announced yesterday. This brings the total amount of funding Visclosky has secured for the high-tech facility to $9.15 million, including the initial funding Vislcosky secured for the construction of the incubator.

Also included in the legislation is $817,000 for Valparaiso University to help purchase a dual-polarization detection Doppler weather radar system.  This advanced radar system will be a valuable teaching tool for the University’s Meteorology department, and will allow the university to provide up to the minute weather information to entities in Northwest Indiana and the surrounding areas. 

$765,000 for Community Security in Northwest Indiana

In Dyer, $550,000 will be used to complete Phase II of the Beren’s Monaldi Flood Diversion Wall. This flood diversion wall will protect over 100 flood prone homes in the Plum Creek watershed.

“The Town of Dyer is extremely appreciative of the efforts of Congressman Visclosky to secure funding Beren’s Monaldi Flood Diversion Wall project. His efforts have resulted in the contribution of more than $1 million in federal funds to assist with protecting the residents of the most flood prone area of our community,” said Joe Neeb, Dyer Town Manager. “Many of our residents in the Beren’s Monaldi subdivision suffered significant losses as a result of that flood which occurred on Plum Creek in August, and it is that type of event on that creek that the floodwall project is designed to protect our residents from. With the Congressman’s help we will be able to complete this much needed project.”

In Jasper County, $215,000 will go for an Outdoor Siren Warning System.  This funding will go toward the purchase and installation of an outdoor siren warning system that currently only covers a small geographic area and is unreliable in severe weather, which is a public safety concern.